| The discovery made by ancient Amazonians | | | | sedimentation in Tertiary lakes or in recent ponds. |
| more then 500 years ago has the ability to | | | | Because of their elevated charcoal content, it is |
| change any soil into the most fertile in the world. | | | | now widely accepted that these soils are a |
| This discovery will increase agriculture production | | | | product of indigenous soil management involving a |
| on less land, help solve world hunger and save the | | | | labor intensive technique termed slash-and-char. |
| rain forest. | | | | The technique is differentiated from slash and |
| Terra preta (which means "dark soil" in | | | | burn by a lower temperature burn and in being a |
| Portuguese), or Terra prÃtta do | | | | tool for soil improvement. Amending soil with low |
| Ãndio, refers to expanses of very dark | | | | temperature charcoal produced from a mix of |
| soils found in the Amazon Basin. They are also | | | | wood and leafy biomass (termed bio-char) has |
| known as Amazonian dark earths. | | | | been observed to increase the activity of |
| Overview | | | | arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. |
| Terra preta is distinguished from "terra comum," | | | | About 10% of the original terra comum appears |
| or "common soil," which refers to the reddish or | | | | to have converted to Terra preta. Whether all |
| yellowish ferralsols that predominate under tropical | | | | Amazonian dark earth was intentionally created |
| soils. Terra preta is believed to be the result of | | | | for soil improvement or whether the lightest |
| past indigenous activities in the forest and is thus | | | | variants are a by-product of habitation is not clear |
| considered to be anthropic and/or anthropogenic, | | | | at present time. This is in part due to the varied |
| possibly from a pre-Columbian civilization. It seems | | | | features of the dark earths throughout the |
| to be comprised of low temperature charcoal, | | | | Amazon Basin. |
| pottery shreds, plant residues, animal feces, fish | | | | Quest Innovations & Research is currently |
| bones, and perhaps some biological agent like a | | | | researching and developing a way to implement |
| special ecosystem of healthy microorganisms. | | | | this new discovery to relieve the growing food |
| Because they are very rich in nutrients they are | | | | needs being experienced world wide. |
| explored and used as compost by Amazonian | | | | Other projects being developed are a water |
| local farmers and "caboclos." | | | | hydration system that will eliminate the need to |
| The origin of the Amazonian dark earths is not | | | | pump water from the ground or dam rivers. The |
| entirely clear and several theories have been | | | | perpetual electrical energy unit will provide an |
| considered. These soils were originally postulated | | | | endless source of clean energy. The hydroponics |
| to result from ash fall from volcanoes in the | | | | system will use Terra preta as a basis to produce |
| Andes since they occur more frequently on the | | | | and increase food supplies world wide. These and |
| brows of higher terraces. Another theory | | | | many other projects are being researched and |
| considered is formation as a result of | | | | developed. |